Franklin DRC reviews Magnolia Hall site work, Winslow and Fair Street alterations, and a contested Main Street repainting

Franklin’s Design Review Committee met to discuss nine development and preservation items, ranging from small site features to larger additions and façade work. Commissioners examined proposed site and landscape changes at Magnolia Hall and the William Campbell House, a proposed covered breezeway and pergola at 1002 Fair Street, rehabilitation and an addition at 106 Winslow Road, an application to repaint metal panels at 98 East Main Street that has been the subject of a violation notice, roof and dormer work at 728 Fair Street, an addition and accessory-structure changes at 1008 Fair Street, and façade and accessibility work at Building 1 of the Factory at Franklin.

Why it matters: the projects are largely within or adjacent to Franklin’s local historic district. The committee’s role is advisory at this stage — the DRC provides guidance to applicants and staff on whether the proposed changes align with the city’s historic-district design guidelines and where applicants should revise designs before a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) or building permit review.

Most urgent items: the DRC gave detailed feedback — not final approvals — on several items the committee described as needing redesign or additional documentation before a voting meeting.

1002 Fair Street — Covered walkway and pergola

Applicant Jeff Fleschauer described plans to add a covered dogleg breezeway from the main house to a new cottage and a pergola over a rear sitting/dining area to provide sheltered access for household guests who use wheelchairs. City staff noted the guidelines do not explicitly address breezeways connecting historic accessory structures to primary historic buildings but said the proposed routing would preserve visual separation between house and accessory structure and is behind the building and not visible from the street. Commissioners asked for additional detail drawings showing rooflines, column detailing, and how the breezeway meets existing corners; several asked the applicant to set support posts slightly back from the historic corner so the addition reads subordinate to the house. The committee’s guidance: supply scaled elevations showing the roof geometry and column details at the voting meeting.

Magnolia Hall / William Campbell House (multiple items)

Jason Goddard and property owners presented updated plans for fencing, gates, hardscape, lighting and other site elements around Magnolia Hall and adjacent William Campbell House. Key points: - Fencing: the team reduced the fence extent that had previously encroached into the front yard of Magnolia Hall; the proposed 4-board horse fencing will mostly be set well back from the front porch (applicants stated the closest point is roughly 130 feet at one skewed angle and about 182 feet straight off a front corner). Staff noted the site and subdivision were vested under 2016 guidelines that recommend 3-foot front-yard picket-style fences; the newer/updated guidelines allow rural horse fencing in some contexts but staff said the property sits in a more blended neighborhood so the 4-foot horse fence is a borderline case. Commissioners generally thought the fence style could work on this property because of existing precedent but asked the applicant to show historic…